Italian Federica Pellegrini, racing for the last time in the shiny suits era, slid inside her own world-record pace for the first 150m of the 200m free heats at the Euro s/c Championships in Istanbul this morning, before easing off. Things will doubtless be different a little later in the day.
- WR: 26.73 55.40 1:23.86 1:51.85
- This AM: 26.72 54.83 1:23.53 1:52.33
Just two years ago in Debrecen, Pellegrini finished fifth in the 200m final won by Josefin Lillhage (SWE), who got the better of Laure Manaudou (FRA) in a champs record of 1:53.55 to 1:54.15. Pellegrini was the first of four women on 1:56-plus. Ten women raced inside 1:57 in heats this morning.
Another textile monument fell in the men's 200m free heats, when Daniil Isotov (RUS) and his suit took down the 1:41.89 champs record that had stood to Pieter Van Den Hoogenband (NED) since 2003. Paul Biedermann (GER), shiny suit world record holder on 1:39.37 since last month, clocked 1:41.33 in heats, with Nikita Lobintsev (RUS), on 1:41.99.
Two years ago at the same championships, the crown went to Filippo Magnini (ITA) in 1:43.50, with Biedermann on a best of 1:43.60. Magnini's time would have taken the last place in the final in Istanbul heats, Biedermann's 2007 best fit to place him out of the final of 2009.
Championship records also fell in heats to Hinkelien Schreuder (NED) on 23.46 in the 50m free and Daniel Gyurta (HUN) on 2:03.25 in the 200m breaststroke.
